All-Out Sewer appealing suspension of business license in Oregon

Oregons Department of Environmental Quality has suspended All-Out Sewer and Drains license to operate in that state and has proposed revoking it entirely.

The DEQ issued the notice July 10, saying the business has been operating without a surety bond, which gives customers liability protection from the company.

Given the companys history of violating the law, including illegal activities in Washington and a failure to maintain a surety bond a necessary part of doing business in Oregon we believe its necessary to revoke the license to protect the health and safety of the public in Oregon, said Esther Westbrook at the DEQ.

All-Outs attorney, Wayne Fricke, said that just isnt the case.

A lot of the information in the notice is not accurate, he said. Not only has there been a bond, theyve been covered and (the department) refuses to acknowledge it.

Fricke said the company plans to appeal the suspension and proposed revocation.

If people have a reason to do something it ought to be a legitimate reason, he said.

Westbrook said the DEQ wont allow the company to reapply for a license under a different name if it is fully revoked.

Joanne Caldwell took over running All-Out in February after her husbands license was revoked in Washington. Ray Caldwell started serving a 27-month prison term on July 3 in Sheridan, Ore., southwest of McMinnville. He was convicted in December of 25 counts of breaking the Clean Water Act and eight other charges related to years of illegal dumping of septic tank waste. Caldwell and the company were fined $250,000 and ordered to pay more than $600,000 in restitution to Three Rivers Regional Wastewater, the city of Longview and Cowlitz County.

Caldwell is appealing his sentence, which Fricke said is in its early stages, though the restitution likely wont be revisited.

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All-Out Sewer appealing suspension of business license in Oregon